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CATHOLICENCYCLOPEDIA:Arianism

Arianism
HelpsupportNewAdventandgetthefullcontentsofthiswebsiteasaninstantdownload.Includes
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Aheresywhicharoseinthefourthcentury,anddeniedtheDivinityofJesusChrist.

Doctrine
FirstamongthedoctrinaldisputeswhichtroubledChristiansafterConstantinehadrecognizedthe
ChurchinA.D.313,andtheparentofmanymoreduringsomethreecenturies,Arianismoccupiesa
largeplaceinecclesiasticalhistory.Itisnotamodernformofunbelief,andthereforewillappear
strangeinmoderneyes.ButweshallbettergraspitsmeaningifwetermitanEasternattemptto
rationalizethecreedbystrippingitofmysterysofarastherelationofChristtoGodwasconcerned.
IntheNewTestamentandinChurchteachingJesusofNazarethappearsastheSonofGod.This
nameHetooktoHimself(Matthew11:27John10:36),whiletheFourthGospeldeclaresHimtobe
theWord(Logos),WhointhebeginningwaswithGodandwasGod,byWhomallthingsweremade.
AsimilardoctrineislaiddownbySt.Paul,inhisundoubtedlygenuineEpistlestotheEphesians,
Colossians,andPhilippians.ItisreiteratedintheLettersofIgnatius,andaccountsforPliny's
observationthatChristiansintheirassemblieschantedahymntoChristasGod.Butthequestionhow
theSonwasrelatedtotheFather(HimselfacknowledgedonallhandstobetheoneSupremeDeity),
gaverise,betweentheyearsA.D.60and200,toanumberofTheosophicsystems,calledgenerally
Gnosticism,andhavingfortheirauthorsBasilides,Valentinus,Tatian,andotherGreekspeculators.
ThoughallofthesevisitedRome,theyhadnofollowingintheWest,whichremainedfreefrom
controversiesofanabstractnature,andwasfaithfultothecreedofitsbaptism.Intellectualcentres
werechieflyAlexandriaandAntioch,EgyptianorSyrian,andspeculationwascarriedoninGreek.
TheRomanChurchheldsteadfastlybytradition.Underthesecircumstances,whenGnosticschools
hadpassedawaywiththeir"conjugations"ofDivinepowers,and"emanations"fromtheSupreme
unknowableGod(the"Deep"andthe"Silence")allspeculationwasthrownintotheformofan
inquirytouchingthe"likeness"oftheSontoHisFatherand"sameness"ofHisEssence.Catholicshad
alwaysmaintainedthatChristwastrulytheSon,andtrulyGod.TheyworshippedHimwithdivine
honourstheywouldneverconsenttoseparateHim,inideaorreality,fromtheFather,WhoseWord,
Reason,Mind,Hewas,andinWhoseHeartHeabodefrometernity.Butthetechnicaltermsof
doctrinewerenotfullydefinedandeveninGreekwordslikeessence(ousia),substance(hypostasis),
nature(physis),person(hyposopon)boreavarietyofmeaningsdrawnfromthepreChristiansectsof
philosophers,whichcouldnotbutentailmisunderstandingsuntiltheywereclearedup.Theadaptation
ofavocabularyemployedbyPlatoandAristotletoChristiantruthwasamatteroftimeitcouldnot
bedoneinadayandwhenaccomplishedfortheGreekithadtobeundertakenfortheLatin,which
didnotlenditselfreadilytonecessaryyetsubtledistinctions.Thatdisputesshouldspringupeven
amongtheorthodoxwhoallheldonefaith,wasinevitable.Andofthesewranglingstherationalist
wouldtakeadvantageinordertosubstitutefortheancientcreedhisowninventions.Thedriftofallhe
advancedwasthis:todenythatinanytruesenseGodcouldhaveaSonasMohammedterselysaid
afterwards,"Godneitherbegets,norisHebegotten"(Koran,112).Wehavelearnedtocallthatdenial
Unitarianism.ItwastheultimatescopeofArianoppositiontowhatChristianshadalwaysbelieved.
ButtheArian,thoughhedidnotcomestraightdownfromtheGnostic,pursuedalineofargumentand
taughtaviewwhichthespeculationsoftheGnostichadmadefamiliar.HedescribedtheSonasa
second,orinferiorGod,standingmidwaybetweentheFirstCauseandcreaturesasHimselfmadeout
ofnothing,yetasmakingallthingselseasexistingbeforetheworldsoftheagesandasarrayedin
alldivineperfectionsexcepttheonewhichwastheirstayandfoundation.Godalonewaswithout
beginning,unoriginatetheSonwasoriginated,andoncehadnotexisted.Forallthathasoriginmust
begintobe.
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SuchisthegenuinedoctrineofArius.UsingGreekterms,itdeniesthattheSonisofoneessence,
nature,orsubstancewithGodHeisnotconsubstantial(homoousios)withtheFather,andtherefore
notlikeHim,orequalindignity,orcoeternal,orwithintherealsphereofDeity.TheLogoswhich
St.Johnexaltsisanattribute,Reason,belongingtotheDivinenature,notapersondistinctfrom
another,andthereforeisaSonmerelyinfigureofspeech.Theseconsequencesfollowuponthe
principlewhichAriusmaintainsinhislettertoEusebiusofNicomedia,thattheSon"isnopartofthe
Ingenerate."HencetheAriansectarieswhoreasonedlogicallywerestyledAnomoeans:theysaidthat
theSonwas"unlike"theFather.AndtheydefinedGodassimplytheUnoriginate.Theyarealso
termedtheExucontians(exoukonton),becausetheyheldthecreationoftheSontobeoutofnothing.
Butaviewsounliketraditionfoundlittlefavouritrequiredsofteningorpalliation,evenatthecostof
logicandtheschoolwhichsupplantedArianismfromanearlydateaffirmedthelikeness,either
withoutadjunct,orinallthings,orinsubstance,oftheSontotheFather,whiledenyingHiscoequal
dignityandcoeternalexistence.ThesemenoftheViaMediawerenamedSemiArians.They
approached,instrictargument,tothehereticalextremebutmanyofthemheldtheorthodoxfaith,
howeverinconsistentlytheirdifficultiesturneduponlanguageorlocalprejudice,andnosmall
numbersubmittedatlengthtoCatholicteaching.TheSemiAriansattemptedforyearstoinventa
compromisebetweenirreconcilableviews,andtheirshiftingcreeds,tumultuouscouncils,andworldly
devicestellushowmixedandmotleyacrowdwascollectedundertheirbanner.Thepointtobekept
inremembranceisthat,whiletheyaffirmedtheWordofGodtobeeverlasting,theyimaginedHimas
havingbecometheSontocreatetheworldsandredeemmankind.AmongtheanteNicenewriters,a
certainambiguityofexpressionmaybedetected,outsidetheschoolofAlexandria,touchingthislast
headofdoctrine.WhileCatholicteachersheldtheMonarchia,viz.thattherewasonlyoneGodand
theTrinity,thatthisAbsoluteOneexistedinthreedistinctsubsistencesandtheCircumincession,that
Father,Word,andSpiritcouldnotbeseparated,infactorinthought,fromoneanotheryetan
openingwasleftfordiscussionasregardedtheterm"Son,"andtheperiodofHis"generation"
(gennesis).FiveanteNiceneFathersareespeciallyquoted:Athenagoras,Tatian,Theophilusof
Antioch,Hippolytus,andNovatian,whoselanguageappearstoinvolveapeculiarnotionofSonship,
asthoughItdidnotcomeintobeingorwerenotperfectuntilthedawnofcreation.Tothesemaybe
addedTertullianandMethodius.CardinalNewmanheldthattheirview,whichisfoundclearlyin
Tertullian,oftheSonexistingaftertheWord,isconnectedasanantecedentwithArianism.Petavius
construedthesameexpressionsinareprehensiblesensebuttheAnglicanBishopBulldefendedthem
asorthodox,notwithoutdifficulty.Evenifmetaphorical,suchlanguagemightgivesheltertounfair
disputantsbutwearenotanswerablefortheslipsofteacherswhofailedtoperceiveallthe
consequencesofdoctrinaltruthsreallyheldbythem.FromthesedoubtfultheorizingsRomeand
Alexandriakeptaloof.Origenhimself,whoseunadvisedspeculationswerechargedwiththeguiltof
Arianism,andwhoemployedtermslike"thesecondGod,"concerningtheLogos,whichwerenever
adoptedbytheChurchthisveryOrigentaughttheeternalSonshipoftheWord,andwasnota
SemiArian.TohimtheLogos,theSon,andJesusofNazarethwereoneeversubsistingDivine
Person,begottenoftheFather,and,inthisway,"subordinate"tothesourceofHisbeing.Hecomes
forthfromGodasthecreativeWord,andsoisaministeringAgent,or,fromadifferentpointofview,
istheFirstbornofcreation.DionysiusofAlexandria(260)wasevendenouncedatRomeforcalling
theSonaworkorcreatureofGodbutheexplainedhimselftothepopeonorthodoxprinciples,and
confessedtheHomoousianCreed.

History
PaulofSamosata,whowascontemporarywithDionysius,andBishopofAntioch,maybejudgedthe
trueancestorofthoseheresieswhichrelegatedChristbeyondtheDivinesphere,whateverepithetsof
deitytheyallowedHim.ThemanJesus,saidPaul,wasdistinctfromtheLogos,and,inMilton'slater
language,bymeritwasmadetheSonofGod.TheSupremeisoneinPersonasinEssence.Three
councilsheldatAntioch(264268,or269)condemnedandexcommunicatedtheSamosatene.But
theseFatherswouldnotaccepttheHomoousianformula,dreadinglestitbetakentosignifyone
materialorabstractsubstance,accordingtotheusageoftheheathenphilosophies.Associatedwith
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Paul,andforyearscutofffromtheCatholiccommunion,wefindthewellknownLucian,whoedited
theSeptuagintandbecameatlastamartyr.FromthislearnedmantheschoolofAntiochdrewits
inspiration.Eusebiusthehistorian,EusebiusofNicomedia,andAriushimself,allcameunder
Lucian'sinfluence.Not,therefore,toEgyptanditsmysticalteaching,buttoSyria,whereAristotle
flourishedwithhislogicanditstendencytoRationalism,shouldwelookforthehomeofan
aberrationwhichhaditfinallytriumphed,wouldhaveanticipatedIslam,reducingtheEternalSonto
therankofaprophet,andthusundoingtheChristianrevelation.
Arius,aLibyanbydescent,broughtupatAntiochandaschoolfellowofEusebius,afterwardsBishop
ofNicomedia,tookpart(306)intheobscureMeletianschism,wasmadepresbyterofthechurch
called"Baucalis,"atAlexandria,andopposedtheSabellians,themselvescommittedtoaviewofthe
TrinitywhichdeniedallrealdistinctionsintheSupreme.Epiphaniusdescribestheheresiarchastall,
grave,andwinningnoaspersiononhismoralcharacterhasbeensustainedbutthereissome
possibilityofpersonaldifferenceshavingledtohisquarrelwiththepatriarchAlexanderwhom,in
publicsynod,heaccusedofteachingthattheSonwasidenticalwiththeFather(319).Theactual
circumstancesofthisdisputeareobscurebutAlexandercondemnedAriusinagreatassembly,and
thelatterfoundarefugewithEusebius,theChurchhistorian,atCaesarea.Politicalorpartymotives
embitteredthestrife.ManybishopsofAsiaMinorandSyriatookupthedefenceoftheir"fellow
Lucianist,"asAriusdidnothesitatetocallhimself.SynodsinPalestineandBithyniawereopposedto
synodsinEgypt.Duringseveralyearstheargumentragedbutwhen,byhisdefeatofLicinius(324),
ConstantinebecamemasteroftheRomanworld,hedeterminedonrestoringecclesiasticalorderinthe
East,asalreadyintheWesthehadundertakentoputdowntheDonatistsattheCouncilofArles.
Arius,inalettertotheNicomedianprelate,hadboldlyrejectedtheCatholicfaith.ButConstantine,
tutoredbythisworldlymindedman,sentfromNicomediatoAlexanderafamousletter,inwhichhe
treatedthecontroversyasanidledisputeaboutwordsandenlargedontheblessingsofpeace.The
emperor,weshouldcalltomind,wasonlyacatechumen,imperfectlyacquaintedwithGreek,much
moreincompetentintheology,andyetambitioustoexerciseovertheCatholicChurchadominion
resemblingthatwhich,asPontifexMaximus,hewieldedoverthepaganworship.FromthisByzantine
conception(labelledinmoderntermsErastianism)wemustderivethecalamitieswhichduringmany
hundredsofyearssettheirmarkonthedevelopmentofChristiandogma.Alexandercouldnotgive
wayinamattersovitallyimportant.Ariusandhissupporterswouldnotyield.Acouncilwas,
therefore,assembledinNicaea,inBithynia,whichhaseverbeencountedthefirstecumenical,and
whichhelditssittingsfromthemiddleofJune,325.(SeeFIRSTCOUNCILOFNICAEA).Itis
commonlysaidthatHosiusofCordovapresided.ThePope,St.Silvester,wasrepresentedbyhis
legates,and318Fathersattended,almostallfromtheEast.Unfortunately,theactsoftheCouncilare
notpreserved.Theemperor,whowaspresent,paidreligiousdeferencetoagatheringwhichdisplayed
theauthorityofChristianteachinginamannersoremarkable.FromthefirstitwasevidentthatArius
couldnotreckonuponalargenumberofpatronsamongthebishops.Alexanderwasaccompaniedby
hisyouthfuldeacon,theevermemorableAthanasiuswhoengagedindiscussionwiththeheresiarch
himself,andfromthatmomentbecametheleaderoftheCatholicsduringwellnighfiftyyears.The
Fathersappealedtotraditionagainsttheinnovators,andwerepassionatelyorthodoxwhilealetter
wasreceivedfromEusebiusofNicomedia,declaringopenlythathewouldneverallowChristtobeof
onesubstancewithGod.Thisavowalsuggestedameansofdiscriminatingbetweentruebelieversand
allthosewho,underthatpretext,didnotholdtheFaithhandeddown.Acreedwasdrawnuponbehalf
oftheArianpartybyEusebiusofCaesareainwhicheverytermofhonouranddignity,exceptthe
onenessofsubstance,wasattributedtoOurLord.Clearly,then,noothertestsavetheHomoousion
wouldproveamatchforthesubtleambiguitiesoflanguagethat,thenasalways,wereeagerlyadopted
bydissidentsfromthemindoftheChurch.Aformulahadbeendiscoveredwhichwouldserveasa
test,thoughnotsimplytobefoundinScripture,yetsummingupthedoctrineofSt.John,St.Paul,and
ChristHimself,"IandtheFatherareone".Heresy,asSt.Ambroseremarks,hadfurnishedfromits
ownscabbardaweapontocutoffitshead.The"consubstantial"wasaccepted,onlythirteenbishops
dissenting,andthesewerespeedilyreducedtoseven.Hosiusdrewouttheconciliarstatements,to
whichanathemasweresubjoinedagainstthosewhoshouldaffirmthattheSononcedidnotexist,or
thatbeforeHewasbegottenHewasnot,orthatHewasmadeoutofnothing,orthatHewasofa
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differentsubstanceoressencefromtheFather,orwascreatedorchangeable.Everybishopmadethis
declarationexceptsix,ofwhomfouratlengthgaveway.EusebiusofNicomediawithdrewhis
oppositiontotheNiceneterm,butwouldnotsignthecondemnationofArius.Bytheemperor,who
consideredheresyasrebellion,thealternativeproposedwassubscriptionorbanishmentand,on
politicalgrounds,theBishopofNicomediawasexilednotlongafterthecouncil,involvingAriusin
hisruin.TheheresiarchandhisfollowersunderwenttheirsentenceinIllyria.Buttheseincidents,
whichmightseemtoclosethechapter,provedabeginningofstrife,andledontothemost
complicatedproceedingsofwhichwereadinthefourthcentury.WhiletheplainAriancreedwas
defendedbyfew,thosepoliticalprelateswhosidedwithEusebiuscarriedonadoublewarfareagainst
theterm"consubstantial",anditschampion,Athanasius.ThisgreatestoftheEasternFathershad
succeededAlexanderintheEgyptianpatriarchate(326).Hewasnotmorethanthirtyyearsofagebut
hispublishedwritings,antecedenttotheCouncil,display,inthoughtandprecision,amasteryofthe
issuesinvolvedwhichnoCatholicteachercouldsurpass.Hisunblemishedlife,consideratetemper,
andloyaltytohisfriendsmadehimbynomeanseasytoattack.ButthewilesofEusebius,whoin328
recoveredConstantine'sfavour,weresecondedbyAsiaticintrigues,andaperiodofArianreactionset
in.EustathiusofAntiochwasdeposedonachargeofSabellianism(331),andtheEmperorsenthis
commandthatAthanasiusshouldreceiveAriusbackintocommunion.Thesaintfirmlydeclined.In
325theheresiarchwasabsolvedbytwocouncils,atTyreandJerusalem,theformerofwhichdeposed
Athanasiusonfalseandshamefulgroundsofpersonalmisconduct.HewasbanishedtoTrier,andhis
sojournofeighteenmonthsinthosepartscementedAlexandriamorecloselytoRomeandthe
CatholicWest.Meanwhile,Constantia,theEmperor'ssister,hadrecommendedArius,whomshe
thoughtaninjuredman,toConstantine'sleniency.Herdyingwordsaffectedhim,andherecalledthe
Lybian,extractedfromhimasolemnadhesiontotheNicenefaith,andorderedAlexander,Bishopof
theImperialCity,togivehimCommunioninhisownchurch(336).Ariusopenlytriumphedbutas
hewentaboutinparade,theeveningbeforethiseventwastotakeplace,heexpiredfromasudden
disorder,whichCatholicscouldnothelpregardingasajudgmentofheaven,duetothebishop's
prayers.Hisdeath,however,didnotstaytheplague.ConstantinenowfavourednonebutArianshe
wasbaptizedinhislastmomentsbytheshiftyprelateofNicomediaandhebequeathedtohisthree
sons(337)anempiretornbydissensionswhichhisignoranceandweaknesshadaggravated.
Constantius,whonominallygovernedtheEast,washimselfthepuppetofhisempressandthepalace
ministers.HeobeyedtheEusebianfactionhisspiritualdirector,Valens,BishopofMursa,didwhatin
himlaytoinfectItalyandtheWestwithAriandogmas.Theterm"likeinsubstance",Homoiousion,
whichhadbeenemployedmerelytogetridoftheNiceneformula,becameawatchword.Butasmany
asfourteencouncils,heldbetween341and360,inwhicheveryshadeofhereticalsubterfugefound
expression,boredecisivewitnesstotheneedandefficacyoftheCatholictouchstonewhichtheyall
rejected.About340,anAlexandriangatheringhaddefendeditsarchbishopinanepistletoPope
Julius.OnthedeathofConstantine,andbytheinfluenceofthatemperor'ssonandnamesake,hehad
beenrestoredtohispeople.Buttheyoungprincepassedaway,andin341thecelebratedAntiochene
CounciloftheDedicationasecondtimedegradedAthanasius,whonowtookrefugeinRome.There
hespentthreeyears.Gibbonquotesandadopts"ajudiciousobservation"ofWetsteinwhichdeserves
tobekeptalwaysinmind.Fromthefourthcenturyonwards,remarkstheGermanscholar,whenthe
EasternChurcheswerealmostequallydividedineloquenceandabilitybetweencontendingsections,
thatpartywhichsoughttoovercomemadeitsappearanceintheVatican,cultivatedthePapalmajesty,
conqueredandestablishedtheorthodoxcreedbythehelpoftheLatinbishops.Thereforeitwasthat
AthanasiusrepairedtoRome.Astranger,Gregory,usurpedhisplace.TheRomanCouncilproclaimed
hisinnocence.In343,Constans,whoruledovertheWestfromIllyriatoBritain,summonedthe
bishopstomeetatSardicainPannonia.NinetyfourLatin,seventyGreekorEastern,prelatesbegan
thedebatesbuttheycouldnotcometoterms,andtheAsiaticswithdrew,holdingaseparateand
hostilesessionatPhilippopolisinThrace.IthasbeenjustlysaidthattheCouncilofSardicareveals
thefirstsymptomsofdiscordwhich,lateron,producedtheunhappyschismofEastandWest.Butto
theLatinsthismeeting,whichallowedofappealstoPopeJulius,ortheRomanChurch,seemedan
epiloguewhichcompletedtheNicenelegislation,andtothiseffectitwasquotedbyInnocentIinhis
correspondencewiththebishopsofAfrica.
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HavingwonoverConstans,whowarmlytookuphiscause,theinvincibleAthanasiusreceivedfrom
hisOrientalandSemiAriansovereignthreeletterscommanding,andatlengthentreatinghisreturnto
Alexandria(349).Thefactiousbishops,UrsaciusandValens,retractedtheirchargesagainsthimin
thehandsofPopeJuliusandashetravelledhome,bywayofThrace,AsiaMinor,andSyria,the
crowdofcourtprelatesdidhimabjecthomage.Thesemenveeredwitheverywind.Some,like
EusebiusofCaesarea,heldaPlatonizingdoctrinewhichtheywouldnotgiveup,thoughtheydeclined
theArianblasphemies.Butmanyweretimeservers,indifferenttodogma.Andanewpartyhad
arisen,thestrictandpiousHomoiousians,notfriendsofAthanasius,norwillingtosubscribetothe
Niceneterms,yetslowlydrawingnearertothetruecreedandfinallyacceptingit.Inthecouncils
whichnowfollowthesegoodmenplaytheirpart.However,whenConstansdied(350),andhisSemi
Arianbrotherwasleftsupreme,thepersecutionofAthanasiusredoubledinviolence.Byaseriesof
intriguestheWesternbishopswerepersuadedtocasthimoffatArles,Milan,Ariminum.Itwas
concerningthislastcouncil(359)thatSt.Jeromewrote,"thewholeworldgroanedandmarvelledto
finditselfArian".FortheLatinbishopsweredrivenbythreatsandchicanerytosignconcessions
whichatnotimerepresentedtheirgenuineviews.Councilsweresofrequentthattheirdatesarestill
matterofcontroversy.Personalissuesdisguisedthedogmaticimportanceofastrugglewhichhad
goneonforthirtyyears.ThePopeoftheday,Liberius,braveatfirst,undoubtedlyorthodox,buttorn
fromhisseeandbanishedtothedrearysolitudeofThrace,signedacreed,intoneSemiArian
(compiledchieflyfromoneofSirmium),renouncedAthanasius,butmadeastandagainsttheso
called"Homoean"formulaeofAriminum.ThisnewpartywasledbyAcaciusofCaesarea,anaspiring
churchmanwhomaintainedthathe,andnotSt.CyrilofJerusalem,wasmetropolitanoverPalestine.
TheHomoeans,asortofProtestants,wouldhavenotermsemployedwhichwerenotfoundin
Scripture,andthusevadedsigningthe"Consubstantial".Amoreextremeset,the"Anomoeans",
followedAtius,weredirectedbyEunomius,heldmeetingsatAntiochandSirmium,declaredtheSon
tobe"unlike"theFather,andmadethemselvespowerfulinthelastyearsofConstantiuswithinthe
palace.GeorgeofCappadociapersecutedtheAlexandrianCatholics.Athanasiusretiredintothedesert
amongthesolitaries.Hosiushadbeencompelledbytorturetosubscribeafashionablecreed.When
thevacillatingEmperordied(361),Julian,knownastheApostate,sufferedallaliketoreturnhome
whohadbeenexiledonaccountofreligion.Amomentousgathering,overwhichAthanasiuspresided,
in362,atAlexandria,unitedtheorthodoxSemiArianswithhimselfandtheWest.Fouryears
afterwardsfiftynineMacedonian,i.e.,hithertoantiNicene,prelatesgaveintheirsubmissiontoPope
Liberius.ButtheEmperorValens,afierceheretic,stilllaidtheChurchwaste.
However,thelongbattlewasnowturningdecidedlyinfavourofCatholictradition.Westernbishops,
likeHilaryofPoitiersandEusebiusofVercellaebanishedtoAsiaforholdingtheNicenefaith,were
actinginunisonwithSt.Basil,thetwoSt.GregoriesofNyssaandNazianzusEd.,andthereconciled
SemiArians.Asanintellectualmovementtheheresyhadspentitsforce.Theodosius,aSpaniardsand
aCatholic,governedthewholeEmpire.Athanasiusdiedin373buthiscausetriumphedat
Constantinople,longanAriancity,firstbythepreachingofSt.GregoryNazianzen,theninthe
SecondGeneralCouncil(381),attheopeningofwhichMeletiusofAntiochpresided.Thissaintly
manhadbeenestrangedfromtheNicenechampionsduringalongschismbuthemadepeacewith
Athanasius,andnow,incompanyofSt.CyrilofJerusalem,representedamoderateinfluencewhich
wontheday.NodeputiesappearedfromtheWest.Meletiusdiedalmostimmediately.St.Gregory
Nazianzen,whotookhisplace,verysoonresigned.AcreedembodyingtheNicenewasdrawnupby
St.GregoryofNyssa,butitisnottheonethatischantedatMass,thelatterbeingdue,itissaid,toSt.
EpiphaniusandtheChurchofJerusalem.TheCouncilbecameecumenicalbyacceptanceofthePope
andtheeverorthodoxWesterns.FromthismomentArianisminallitsformslostitsplacewithinthe
Empire.Itsdevelopmentsamongthebarbarianswerepoliticalratherthandoctrinal.Ulphilas(311
388),whotranslatedtheScripturesintoMaesoGothic,taughttheGothsacrosstheDanubean
HomoeantheologyAriankingdomsaroseinSpain,Africa,Italy.TheGepidae,Heruli,Vandals,
Alans,andLombardsreceivedasystemwhichtheywereaslittlecapableofunderstandingasthey
wereofdefending,andtheCatholicbishops,themonks,theswordofClovis,theactionofthePapacy,
madeanendofitbeforetheeighthcentury.IntheformwhichittookunderArius,Eusebiusof
Caesarea,andEunomius,ithasneverbeenrevived.Individuals,amongthemareMiltonandSirIsasc
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Newton,wereperhapstaintedwithit.ButtheSociniantendencyoutofwhichUnitariandoctrines
havegrownowesnothingtotheschoolofAntiochorthecouncilswhichopposedNicaea.Neitherhas
anyArianleaderstoodforthinhistorywithacharacterofheroicproportions.Inthewholestorythere
isbutonesingleherotheundauntedAthanasiuswhosemindwasequaltotheproblems,ashis
greatspirittothevicissitudes,aquestiononwhichthefutureofChristianitydepended.

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APAcitation.Barry,W.(1907).Arianism.InTheCatholicEncyclopedia.NewYork:Robert
AppletonCompany.RetrievedJanuary19,2016fromNewAdvent:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01707c.htm
MLAcitation.Barry,William."Arianism."TheCatholicEncyclopedia.Vol.1.NewYork:Robert
AppletonCompany,1907.19Jan.2016<http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01707c.htm>.
Transcription.ThisarticlewastranscribedforNewAdventbyAnthonyA.Killeen.A.M.D.G.
Ecclesiasticalapprobation.NihilObstat.March1,1907.RemyLafort,S.T.D.,Censor.Imprimatur.
+JohnCardinalFarley,ArchbishopofNewYork.
Contactinformation.TheeditorofNewAdventisKevinKnight.Myemailaddressiswebmasterat
newadvent.org.Regrettably,Ican'treplytoeveryletter,butIgreatlyappreciateyourfeedback
especiallynotificationsabouttypographicalerrorsandinappropriateads.

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